What is Diabetes, Types, Causes, Symptoms and Prevention Tips

What is diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects how the body uses glucose or blood sugar. Diabetic patients have too much glucose in the blood. Insulin is the hormone that helps to regulate the blood sugar levels so that the body can use the sugar (glucose ) in the blood for energy. Glucose is vital to your health because it’s an important source of energy for the cells that make up your muscles and tissues of your body. Inability to produce insulin leads to Type-1 diabetes also called Diabetes Insipidus and insufficiency of insulin leads to Type-2 diabetes also called diabetes mellitus.

Severity of the Disease

There are 380 million diabetics all over the world and it is predicted to become 550 million by 2030. Every 1 in 10 people have diabetes and with such a data it is important to take note of your food habits and your lifestyle. Improving these factors can cut down the risk of developing diabetes.

Causes of diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is caused when the body’s immune system destroys the beta cells of pancreas known as the autoimmune reaction. These trigger can be due to bacterial infection, chemicals found in food, environmental factors and genetic disposition. On the other hand type 2 diabetes is caused due to sedentary lifestyle, obesity, improper eating habits and lack of exercise.

Symptoms of diabetes

Diabetes can cause serious health issues, it is advised to do regular blood sugar tests to know the exact blood sugar. However, if there is high blood sugar in your body, you may see one or more of the following symptoms

Frequent urination

Increased thirst

Fatigue

Rapid weight loss

Excessive hunger

Itchy skin/dry skin

Slow healing of wounds

Blurry vision/occasional flashes of light/floaters

Pain, numbness, tingling in hands and feet

However, men and women may experience certain gender specific symptoms.

Gender Specific Symptoms of Diabetes

Men tend to have decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, and low testosterone and decreased ejaculation whereas women experience frequent yeast infections, irritability, increased hunger with weight loss, fruity or acetone odor in breath, skin infection, scaling and peeling of the skin on soles of the feet.

Control/Prevent Diabetic Condition

Rise and fall in blood sugar levels can damage the major organs of the body like heart, kidneys, eyes and damaging your nerves that can lead to amputation. 70 percent of people with diabetes have hypertension causing heart disease.

In order to gain control over your diabetes one needs to inculcate good habits and get regular health checkups. It is important to get a proper diet chart from your physician that is designed in accordance with your food habits. Physical activity is equally important and helps you maintain a healthy weight. Following activities may help to reduce or prevent diabetic conditions but If one experiences these symptoms one should consult with their physician and get their blood sugar levels tested.